Researching in the Humanities

Research in the humanities generally involves interpreting a text or a work of art within a historical and cultural context,
making connections, exploring meaning, and uncovering contradictions. Scholars in the humanities typically use library resources
in at least three ways:

to obtain primary sources to be interpreted or analyzed

to find secondary sources to put primary sources in a critical context

to seek answers to specific questions that arise during research

Research in the humanities is often interdisciplinary, bridging literature and history, philosophy and art, or music and religion.
Because the subject areas are harder to categorize, the terminology used in humanities research may be less solid and agreed
upon than that in other fields. Researchers in the humanities are more likely to draw material from texts and artifacts than
from original data gathering and experimentation. They must be prepared to be

flexible, both in search terminology and in search strategy

tolerant of multiple perspectives on the same object of study

prepared to use citations in relevant texts to locate other material and clarify connections among works

willing to return to the library as new questions arise

Fortunately, there are many fine research tools to help. Those listed here are not available in every library, but they give
you some ideas for how to start. Always bear in mind, too, that librarians are particularly user-friendly resources. Ask a
librarian for recommended research tools as you begin your research, and use the librarian’s expertise as your research progresses
and your questions grow more specific.